Fabrication and characterization of high strength Nylon-6/Si3N4 polymer nanocomposite fibers

Alignment of silicon nitride nanorods in Nylon-6 polymeric matrix has been achieved through melt extrusion process. Tensile properties of as-fabricated single fibers show that the strength and modulus of a nanocomposite fibers increased by 273% and 610%, respectively, as compared to the neat Nylon-6 fibers. Field emission scanning electron microscopy (FE-SEM) studies have confirmed the successful alignment of nanorods along the filament length. Larger increase in modulus of the nanorods reinforced Nylon-6 was at a cost of about 35% decrease (reduced from 65% to 30%) in fracture strain. In an attempt to retain the ultimate strain, nanorods were replaced by spherical Si3N4 (similar to 30 nm dia) particles and it was demonstrated that the improvement in tensile properties is still by 179% for strength and 276% for modulus practically without any loss of fracture strain. (C) 2008 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.